July Majap Shipments Up 1.1%: AHAM

WASHINGTON – Factory shipments of major appliances rose 1.1 percent in July as steep declines in room-air demand masked double-digit gains for the core laundry, dishwasher and cooking categories.

According to vendor data compiled by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), an industry trade group, wholesale unit volume for ACs fell nearly 40 percent last month amid cool early-summer climes for much of the country.

Among the former, shipments of ranges rose 20 percent in both electric and gas varieties, while gas cooktops sizzled with a 33 percent spike. In contrast, microwave oven shipments cooled, slipping 8 percent year over year.